Graham set to join Sunderland for 4m once Swansea agree deal for Stoke striker Jones

By
John Edwards

PUBLISHED:

16:51 GMT, 9 January 2013

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UPDATED:

17:24 GMT, 9 January 2013

Sunderland are confident of seeing off a late challenge from QPR for Danny Graham and believe they would have signed him by now but for a snag over Kenwyne Jones’ proposed move to Swansea.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed last Friday that Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill had launched a bid to take the 27-year-old Swansea striker back to his native North East.

QPR have now joined Norwich, Reading and Aston Villa as the other challengers for his signature, but Sunderland still firmly believe they will win the race.

Out of favour: Graham could be set to leave Swansea

O’Neill is convinced Graham would have been preparing for his debut by now but for Swansea and Stoke failing to reach an agreement over Jones.

Stoke rejected a Swansea request to take Jones on loan with a view to a permanent deal. They are now waiting for Liberty Stadium bosses to come back with an offer that meets their valuation.

Once Swansea have secured a replacement for Graham – and they remain hopeful it will be Jones – the former Watford star will be allowed to leave for around 4million, with the Stadium of Light his likely destination.

Heading to Swansea: Jones (left) is set to swap Stoke for the Liberty Stadium

The 22-year-old has established himself in the first team after the departure of Gokhan Inler to Napoli in 2011, and played the full 90 minutes in last week's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Europa League,

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: All the action from around the grounds as it happens

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UPDATED:

13:15 GMT, 27 October 2012

Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Barclays Premier League as Arsenal take on QPR in one of four games kicking off at 3pm. Elsewhere it is Reading v Fulham, Stoke v Sunderland and Wigan v West Ham. Send me your thoughts on the action at [email protected] or on Twitter @Ripinho.

14.18: Breaking news from Arsenal is that Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna start for the Gunners.

14.15: Winter is closing in folks and I'm not saying that because we have a new Premier League football this weekend – more simply because it's got rather cold all of a sudden. Enough with the weather talk though as we have four games on the way and the team news to follow.

Main feature: Arsenal, Reading, Stoke and West Ham feature in the 3pm kick-offs

Hughes frustrated after QPR fail to win AGAIN as Everton hang on for point

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UPDATED:

21:10 GMT, 21 October 2012

QPR manager Mark Hughes admitted his frustration that his side remain without a win in the Barclays Premier League this season after they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Everton.

Hughes has not seen his team win any of their opening eight league fixtures and Rangers stayed bottom of the table.

Junior Hoilett scored a second-minute goal to give QPR the lead at Loftus Road, but an unfortunate own goal from goalkeeper Julio Cesar earned Everton a share of the spoils, despite Steven Pienaar's second-half dismissal.

Not again: Mark Hughes' side have yet to win in the Premier League

QPR forced the issue late on, but could not grab a winning goal, leaving Hughes disappointed.

'The emotion we are all feeling is frustration because I think we showed today that our football is good and we try and play in the right manner,' he said.

'We try and get the ball down, try and get width and get our technical players to take people on. We have been doing that since the start of the season and we have had good performances, but haven't been able to take that final step.

'The guys are in the dressing room really disappointed because this was an opportunity.'

Hughes did take some positives from the game, however, as he felt his players held their own against a strong Everton team who currently occupy fourth spot in the league.

He said: 'In the end we have gone up against one of the better side in the Premier League who have started like a house on fire and we have matched them.

'On another day we should have beaten them, but obviously we are disappointed because we still have to get three points on the board.'

The Welshman stressed before the weekend a good start to the game was vital for his side after they had conceded early goals in their previous two league matches.

Hoilett's goal meant Hughes got his wish and he was pleased with the intensity shown by his side from the kick-off.

'We got an early reward,' he said.

Not bad: Junior Hoilett (left) scored an early goal for QPR, but they were unable to retain the lead

Soft: Steven Pienaar was sent off for a second yellow card

'Obviously we had talked about starting well because we haven't done that in the last couple of games and thankfully we addressed that detail in our game that has been hurting us.'

QPR laid siege to the Everton goal for a period in the second half, but could not find a way through, although Hughes felt his side should have been awarded a penalty from referee Jonathan Moss for a foul on Hoilett.

'We should have had a stonewall penalty,' he said. 'The referee is only four metres away so why he hasn't given it I have no idea, but in fairness I think he frustrated both teams and both sets of supporters today. I don't think it was one of his best performances.'

Everton boss David Moyes felt the match was an important one for QPR and claimed Hughes' side will soon find their feet.

He said: 'It was going to make it difficult to win when it went to 10, but I think we still tried to counter-attack at the right moments.

Not today: Sylvain Distin's header ricocheted off Julio Cesar to ensure QPR went on without a win

'It was a big game for QPR as you could see so we knew what we had to deal with. I think the players did a really good job and kept the momentum going and made sure we got a result today.

'I think they will achieve more at QPR, they have a really experienced team. I have seen them play a couple of times and the players they have had great experience.

'I think they have got good players, when you bring in an awful lot of new players it can be difficult.

'They need to give the manager time. They worked hard for Mark today and tried to get a result.'

Moyes was unhappy with the decision from Moss to send Pienaar off in the second half after the midfielder appeared to make little contact with Jose Bosingwa.

'(It was) very, very harsh to give someone a red card for that, incredible,' he said.

'I don't even know if he touched him, I think the boy (Bosingwa) lifted his leg and it hit Steven rather than Steven hitting him so I think it was the wrong decision.'